A prosthetic implant with improved properties, suitable for implantation to the human body, comprising a composite comprising a base material and a plurality of additives, wherein the additives are selected from radiolucent additives and/or hyperechoic additives; or wherein the additives are selected to reduce the solvent concentration by between 5%-95%; or wherein the additives are selected to increase the elastic modulus by more than 20%; or wherein the additives are selected for combining these effects.

The invention describes method for delivering and positioning radio-isotopes. The method uses encapsulating free flowing medicament into a leak proof vehicle and positioning the vehicle into the body. Also provided is a system for delivering and positioning radio-isotopes into the body, the system comprising fluid radio-isotope encapsulated in a leak proof material and/or absorbable material.

An approach is provided for a three-dimensional (3D) printing method for forming a 3D object. The approach provides for printing a structure of the 3D object by depositing a thermoplastic material, in which the thermoplastic material is radiolucent. The approach provides for printing one or more radio-opaque markers by depositing another material, which includes at least a radio-opaque material. The approach integrates the one or more radio-opaque markers with the structure of the 3D object.

Described herein are fluid complex coacervates that produce solid adhesives in situ. Oppositely charged polyelectrolytes were designed to form fluid adhesive complex coacervates at ionic strengths higher than the ionic strength of the application site, but an insoluble adhesive solid or gel at the application site. When the fluid, high ionic strength adhesive complex coacervates are introduced into the lower ionic strength application site, the fluid complex coacervate is converted to a an adhesive solid or gel as the salt concentration in the complex coacervate equilibrates to the application site salt concentration. In one embodiment, the fluid complex coacervates are designed to solidify in situ at physiological ionic strength and have numerous medical applications. In other aspects, the fluid complex coacervates can be used in aqueous environment for non-medical applications.

A target tissue can be treated with a radioisotope. Some methods for treating a target tissue with a radioisotope include determining a distance between a target tissue and a surface of a matrix material to be positioned adjacent the target tissue and, based on the determined distance, determining an activity to be mixed with the matrix material to obtain a desired activity concentration. Some methods further include mixing the radioisotope with the matrix material. In some embodiments, the matrix material comprises bone cement, and the target tissue is a tumor in a bone. The radioisotope may be a beta-emitting radioisotope mixed in the cement at a concentration to form a radioactive cement.

Described herein are fluid complex coacervates that produce solid adhesives in situ. Oppositely charged polyelectrolytes were designed to form fluid adhesive complex coacervates at ionic strengths higher than the ionic strength of the application site, but an insoluble adhesive solid or gel at the application site. When the fluid, high ionic strength adhesive complex coacervates are introduced into the lower ionic strength application site, the fluid complex coacervate is converted to a an adhesive solid or gel as the salt concentration in the complex coacervate equilibrates to the application site salt concentration. In one embodiment, the fluid complex coacervates are designed to solidify in situ at physiological ionic strength and have numerous medical applications. In other aspects, the fluid complex coacervates can be used in aqueous environment for non-medical applications.

Antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend, compounds, coatings, and materials containing the same, as well as articles made with, or coated with the same, and methods of making the same exhibiting improved antimicrobial properties and reduced platelet adhesion. Embodiments include polymers with antimicrobial and antithrombogenic groups bound to a single polymer backbone, an antimicrobial polymer blended with an antithrombogenic polymer, and medical devices coated with the antimicrobial and antithrombogenic polymer or polymeric blend.

This document provides materials and methods for permanent arterial embolization and/or enhanced vascular healing. For example, materials and methods for using bioactive tissue derived nanocomposite hydrogels to enhance vascular healing are provided.

This disclosure provides design, material, preparation methods, and use alternatives for medical devices. An example method of preparing a stent comprises applying a coating to a portion of the stent at a medical treatment facility, the coating including a plurality of radioactive elements and a substrate. The plurality of radioactive elements are mixed with the substrate to form a mixture such that the plurality of radioactive elements are dispersed within the substrate prior to the coating being applied on the stent.

Expandable elements having drug-delivery features and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a drug-eluting stent includes a radially expandable cylindrical frame having a plurality of struts. The frame is transformable between a low-profile delivery state and an expanded deployed state. A plurality of drug-delivery features are carried by one of the struts and configured to deliver a drug to a treatment site within the patient or piercing through the tissue wall to break the constricting of the vessel wall inwardly. When the frame is in the expanded state within a body lumen of the patient, the drug-delivery features extend radially outwardly away from the strut and are configured to engage and, in some arrangements, pass through a wall of the body lumen.